Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)
A lively night in the main street of the Yoshiwara amusement quarters at cherry blossom time.
Visitors come and go, courtesans and their entourage are parading around. The central, full moon illuminates the scene.
Title: Yoshiwara Nakanochô yozakura (Cherry Blossoms at Night on the Main Street of Yoshiwara)
Series: Tôto meisho (Famous Places of the Eastern Capital, i.e. Edo)
Signature: Hiroshige ga
Seal: Hiro (diamond-seal)
Publisher: Sanoya Kihei (Kikakudô)
Censor: Kiwame
Date: Around 1835
Size: Horizontal Oban, 25,5 x 37,7 cm (overall)
Very nice impression and very good colours. Wide margins, unbacked. As often, vertical middle fold, smoothed. Corners verso in margins partially a little thinner, bottom left corner expertly reinforced. Overall very good condition.
An exceptionally lovely and atmospheric Yoshiwara scene with a great composition. „…this print has always been considered one of the masterpieces of the series.“ - Tamba, The Art of Hiroshige, Tokio 1965, No. 25, and commentary p. 7.
Cf. also British Museum, No. 1934,1013,0.5; Chazen Museum of Art, Van Vleck Coll., No. 1980.1737 a.o.; Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA), No. P.75.51.321, MFA Boston, Bigelow Coll. No. 11.24932 a.o.
sold